Episode 10: The Game After the Game
1548 Words
The door has chosen you.”
Heaven stared at Sierra.
“What does that mean?”
Sierra didn’t answer immediately.
She walked toward them slowly, her eyes fixed on the closed door.
“It means everything is going to change.”
Heaven folded her arms.
“You keep saying things like that, but you never actually explain anything.”
“I’m trying to.”
“No. You’re warning me.”
Sierra looked at her.
“Because that’s all I can do.”
Conrad stepped between them.
“Then start explaining.”
Sierra sighed.
“The magic has been looking for someone.”
“Someone like Heaven?” Conrad asked.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“You know more than you’re saying.”
Sierra’s expression tightened.
“I know enough to know that this isn’t a game.”
Heaven glanced at the door.
“What happens if I open it?”
Sierra’s face went pale.
“Don’t.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“I don’t know what happens.”
“Then how can you tell me not to?”
“Because I’ve seen what happens when people try.”
Conrad looked at her.
“You said your sister disappeared.”
Sierra nodded.
“After she opened a door like that.”
Heaven swallowed.
“Did she have magic?”
“Yes.”
“Was she connected to someone?”
Sierra’s eyes moved toward Conrad.
“Yes.”
Heaven looked at Conrad.
His expression changed.
“What?”
Sierra shook her head.
“Nothing.”
“No.” Conrad stepped closer. “You were about to say something.”
Sierra looked at him.
“Your family knew about the magic before you did.”
Conrad froze.
“My family?”
“Yes.”
Heaven looked at him.
“Did your parents ever tell you anything?”
“No.”
Sierra shook her head.
“They didn’t want you to know.”
Conrad’s jaw tightened.
“Why?”
“Because they were afraid.”
“Of what?”
Sierra looked at Heaven.
“Of what would happen if the magic woke up again.”
Nobody spoke.
Then the school bell rang.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
Heaven jumped.
Maya came running around the corner.
“There you are!”
She stopped when she saw everyone.
“Why are you all standing here?”
Nobody answered.
Maya looked suspicious.
“What happened?”
“Nothing,” Heaven said quickly.
Maya stared at her.
“Your face says otherwise.”
“We need to get to class.”
Maya looked at the door.
“Why were you standing here?”
Heaven hesitated.
Conrad stepped in.
“We were looking for a classroom.”
Maya raised an eyebrow.
“Together?”
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
She smiled.
“I won’t ask.”
Heaven knew that meant Maya was definitely going to ask later.
They returned to class.
For the rest of the morning, Heaven couldn’t concentrate.
Every time she looked at her notebook, she remembered the door.
Every time she looked at Conrad, she remembered what Sierra had said.
His family knew.
That bothered her.
But there was something else bothering her even more.
Sierra had looked genuinely scared.
Not jealous.
Not angry.
Scared.
At lunch, Heaven sat with Maya.
Conrad and Dylan joined them a few minutes later.
Maya immediately started talking about the upcoming school sports event.
“I heard there’s another game on Friday.”
Dylan nodded.
“Basketball.”
Maya looked at Heaven.
“You’re coming.”
Heaven sighed.
“Why do you keep deciding things for me?”
“Because you need to have fun.”
Dylan laughed.
“She has a point.”
Conrad leaned back.
“I agree.”
Heaven looked at him.
“You just want me there because you want someone cheering for you.”
“Maybe.”
“You already have a whole crowd.”
“I want you.”
The table went silent.
Heaven blinked.
Maya slowly looked at Dylan.
Dylan looked at Conrad.
Conrad looked completely unbothered.
Heaven’s face warmed.
“You can’t just say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
She couldn’t think of an answer.
Maya started laughing.
“You two are unbelievable.”
Conrad smiled at Heaven.
“Friday?”
She sighed.
“Fine.”
“Good.”
Sierra walked past their table.
She glanced at Conrad.
Then at Heaven.
She kept walking.
Heaven watched her.
Something about Sierra still bothered her.
Not because she was Conrad’s ex.
Because she clearly knew something.
After lunch, Heaven was walking to class when she heard someone call her.
“Heaven.”
She turned.
Sierra stood behind her.
“Can we talk?”
Heaven nodded.
They walked into an empty corridor.
Sierra looked nervous.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“About Conrad.”
Heaven immediately became uncomfortable.
“What about him?”
“He doesn’t remember everything.”
“About the magic?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Sierra hesitated.
“Because his memories were blocked.”
Heaven stared at her.
“By who?”
“I don’t know.”
“You said his family knew.”
“They did.”
“Then why don’t they tell him?”
“Because they believe forgetting is safer.”
Heaven looked away.
“Do you believe that?”
Sierra shook her head.
“No.”
“Then why are you telling me to stay away from him?”
Sierra looked at her.
“Because the magic reacts to both of you.”
Heaven said nothing.
“When you’re together, it’s stronger.”
“I know.”
“No. I don’t think you understand.”
Sierra stepped closer.
“Every time you get closer to Conrad, the magic gets stronger.”
Heaven’s heart beat faster.
“So?”
“So if the magic is looking for a way to open the door…”
She paused.
“It may be using your connection to him.”
Heaven frowned.
“You’re saying my feelings are making it stronger?”
Sierra nodded.
Heaven looked down.
That thought scared her.
Because she knew exactly how she felt about Conrad.
And those feelings weren’t getting weaker.
They were getting stronger every day.
“I can’t stop liking him just because magic says I should.”
Sierra looked surprised.
“You really like him.”
Heaven’s cheeks warmed.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Sierra smiled faintly.
For the first time, the two girls weren’t enemies.
They were just two people worried about the same thing.
Then a loud cheer came from the field.
Both girls turned.
The basketball team had started practice.
Conrad was on the court.
He looked toward the hallway.
He saw Heaven.
His face immediately brightened.
Sierra watched him.
Then she looked at Heaven.
“You see?”
Heaven smiled despite herself.
“What?”
“He looks at you differently.”
Heaven didn’t answer.
Sierra walked away.
Heaven stood there for a moment.
Then she headed toward the field.
Maya spotted her first.
“You came!”
Heaven smiled.
“I was just passing by.”
“Sure.”
Conrad ran toward them.
“You came to watch?”
“Maybe.”
He smiled.
“I’ll make it worth it.”
He ran back onto the court.
The game-like practice continued.
Heaven watched him.
For the first time all day, she felt normal.
Then Conrad jumped for the ball.
He landed.
His wrist flashed gold.
He stumbled.
Heaven stood immediately.
“Conrad!”
He looked toward her.
The golden glow disappeared.
He shook his head.
“I’m okay.”
But Heaven knew he wasn’t.
After practice, Conrad walked over.
“You worried?”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“I like that.”
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to make me worry more.”
He laughed.
“You care about me.”
Heaven looked away.
“Maybe.”
He stepped closer.
“Maybe?”
She looked at him.
“Don’t push it.”
He smiled.
“Okay.”
For a moment, they stood quietly.
Then Conrad reached for her hand.
She let him.
Their fingers intertwined.
Nothing happened.
No sparks.
No flickering lights.
No glowing marks.
Just warmth.
Heaven smiled.
Maybe that was all she needed.
Then—
The lights around the field went out.
Everyone screamed.
Heaven’s hand tightened around Conrad’s.
His wrist began glowing.
A golden light appeared beneath their feet.
The same symbol.
Conrad looked down.
“Heaven…”
She stared at it.
“I didn’t do that.”
“I know.”
The symbol grew brighter.
Then a whisper echoed across the empty field.
Not from the hallway.
Not from the classroom.
Everywhere.
“Come back.”
Conrad froze.
Heaven looked at him.
“You heard that?”
He nodded.
“What did it say?”
He looked terrified.
“It said…”
He swallowed.
“Come back.”
Heaven’s heart sank.
“Back where?”
Conrad looked toward the school building.
Neither of them spoke.
Because they both knew.
The door.
And somewhere inside the school, something knocked three times.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Then everything went dark.
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